NY Jets: 5 Underrated defensive targets in 2025 NFL draft

The back half of the draft has some hidden defensive gems for the Jets to consider

In my previous article, we looked at five offensive players flying under the radar that the New York Jets could look to target in the 2025 NFL draft. We now turn our attention to some of the defensive players the Jets could look to target in the upcoming draft.

Like the previous article, this won’t feature the top-end sexy names you’ll see in the first round of mock drafts. However, none of these players should be slept on in their ability to become difference-makers at the NFL level.

This was truly hard for me to narrow down to five players. Because of that, I’ve tried to narrow it down to players who could be culture and scheme fits, as well as positions of need for the Jets.

New York Jets Underrated Targets

Fadil Diggs, EDGE – Syracuse

Yeah, I know. After listing two Syracuse Orange players in the previous article, it seems absurd to list another one here, right? As I mentioned, however, the leadership and talent evaluation of their coaching staff has been excellent. Multiple Syracuse players are flying under the radar in terms of their potential draft projection. One of those players is EDGE Fadil Diggs.

Diggs is versatile – whether based on his pre-snap position or deployment. Diggs was one of 15 EDGE players to have at least 100 coverage snaps. While his 53.5 grade suggests he is a liability in pass coverage, Diggs displays a high football IQ, especially when playing in a zone or spy role. He was also asked to drop in coverage at the Shrine Bowl and performed well there.

Diggs shines in his ability to get after the passer and ball carriers. He displays a tremendous football IQ in knowing what the play call will be after the snap. That type of ability is extremely hard to find in a rookie prospect, especially along the defensive line.

Diggs’ 15.0 pass rush win rate is tied for 30th among 128 qualifying players. Meanwhile, his pass rush grade in true pass sets is 48th, at 75.2. Diggs wins extremely well with a power rush, but his rip move might be his best asset. Here he displays it at the Shrine Bowl, where he would have destroyed the quarterback if it were a real game.

His run-stopping is considered underwhelming from a statistical lens, but Diggs’ average depth of tackle is 1.1 yards, meaning he is consistently providing pressure at the line of scrimmage, disrupting plays.

A big reason why I’m higher on Diggs than most is his current draft projection. At the moment, Diggs is projected to be a seventh-round selection. At that price tag, it’s impossible not to want to take a shot on a 6-foot-5 edge rusher who should only continue to impress throughout the pre-draft process.

C.J. West, IDL – Indiana

One player who has really stuck out to me when watching film is Indiana’s C.J. West. The Hoosier has a (healthy) mean streak to him, and a motor that doesn’t quit. West is all power and athleticism, and he would be a perfect fit along the interior for the NY Jets. He has a push-pull move that is nearly unstoppable, and an excellent bull rush to go along with it.

Yet West isn’t just brute force with his power. He shows incredibly quick hands to blow past offensive linemen in one-on-one opportunities.

Among interior defensive linemen, West’s 83.6 defensive grade is the 13th-best among 467 qualifying players. He’s also a force as a run-stopper, ranking 9th-best with an 88.1 grade, per PFF. Meanwhile, his stop percentage of 11.4 against the run is also the 13th-best among interior defensive linemen.

On top of his run-stopping prowess, West can also perform as a pass-rusher. His 25 total pressures as a pass-rusher rank 50th among 862 qualifiers. His pass rush grade of 73.0 is 43rd among qualifiers.

Currently, West is projected as a fifth-round pick. Given his mentality, effort, and production, there’s little reason not to take a shot on the Indiana product in a defense looking to regain their edge.

Teddye Buchanan, Linebacker – California

Teddye Buchanan is my LB1 in this draft class (not including EDGE players and pass-rushers). The former FCS product joined the FBS ranks with the California Golden Bears in 2024 and instantly showed that he belongs. At 6-foot-2 and 236 pounds, Buchanan is a great combination of size and speed, and it shows on film.

More importantly Buchanan understands his gap assignments and doesn’t hesitate to attack when necessary.

Statistically, Buchanan was one of only 13 linebackers to post a 70.0 grade or higher in defense, run defense, tackling, pass rush, and coverage last season. Buchanan is a jack-of-all-trades type of player. He also has the ability to get to the quarterback despite not being utilized consistently as a pass-rushing option.

His six sacks are tied for ninth among all linebackers, and his 25 total pressures also place him ninth. Meanwhile, his 48 stops against the run have him tied for 19th among linebackers.

Surprisingly, Buchanan has a seventh round grade on him. That may change after the NFL Combine. Buchanan is poised to be an electric player at the NFL level. He would make an incredible addition to the New York Jets defense.

Kahzir Brown, Cornerback – Florida Atlantic

With DJ Reed expected to leave the Jets, New York needs another playmaking cornerback to join their secondary. You won’t find a player more deserving, yet under-appreciated, than FAU’s Kahzir Brown.

Brown is a 6-foot-3 cornerback who can bench press 300 pounds with ease (no, seriously). He also has the speed to chase down ball-carriers on the opposite side of the field. On top of that, “Buggs” Brown is a ballhawk with elite athleticism and understanding of the game.

Unfortunately for Kahzir, his lack of draft hype is more due to the teams he has played with than any sort of talent issue.

The Trenton, New Jersey product is an excellent press-man cornerback who excels in man coverage. He’s also a dynamic playmaker in the run game. Brown brings a type of physicality at the position that you don’t often see anymore. However, he has the prowess and finesse to excel at cornerback (or even safety).

Brown could potentially slip out of the NFL draft. If that’s the case, I hope that the Jets pounce on him and add another elite player to their secondary.

Craig Woodson, Safety – California

Like Teddye Buchanan, Craig Woodson is an elite player out of Cal who is completely flying under the radar.

The Cal safety ranks seventh in defensive grade among all safeties. In addition, he’s one of just two safeties in the FBS last year to post an 80.0 rating in defensive grade, run defense, tackle grade, and pass coverage. It’s absurd that he’s being given a seventh-round projection. When I talked to him at the Shrine Bowl, he admitted that he felt like he was being underrated by NFL teams, too.

With a glaring hole at safety, the Jets could use a player of Woodson’s caliber. He rarely misses tackles, at an 8.9 percent clip, while his 22 stops are in the upper-half of safeties in the FBS.

In coverage, Woodson is elite. He shows great instincts and pursuit on the ball in the air, and he isn’t afraid to lay out a receiver to force a breakup.

Woodson is a playmaker who comes up big in big moments. That’s a player the Jets need in their secondary. With his leadership, work ethic, and attitude, Woodson is a player that will prove many wrong at the next level.

Honorable Mentions

Like last time, there are a few players that I really wanted to add to this list, but I just couldn’t given the criteria I set for the article.

Aeneas Peebles, Defensive Lineman – Virginia Tech

If Peebles wasn’t already listed with a fourth-round grade (which will only continue to climb), he would have easily made this list. He is slightly bigger than C.J. West and Peebles has an elite pass-rushing skillset.

At the Senior Bowl, Peebles showcased his incredible swim move. He also was a force in live drills, proving the one-on-one drills weren’t a fluke.

Nohl Williams, Cornerback – California

I just couldn’t put three California players on this list. Yet all of them are being completely overlooked by the general draft community.

Williams led the FBS in interceptions. He’s an excellent zone coverage cornerback who is a true ballhawk at the position. On top of his prowess as a defender, Williams is also a very capable return man, and he scored last year on a return. He would make an excellent piece to add alongside Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II.

Zah Frazier, Cornerback – UTSA

Like Williams, Zah Frazier is also a ball hawking cornerback. He had three games of multiple interceptions last season, and he’s consistently improving as a player with each passing year. He’s the only cornerback to post an 80.0 or higher grade in defense, run defense, tackle grade, and pass coverage last season. Don’t let him coming from a G5 fool you. Frazier is an elite player.